Ultrabooks are a hot topic right now, but with so many superslim 13-inch laptops available, how do you choose the best one? It's especially hard in the new pseudo-category, as most of the ultrabooks we've seen are very similar, both in design and specs. For this eagerly awaited Prizefight, we pitted two of our favorite ultrabooks against each other: the HP Folio 13 and the Dell XPS 13.

The Dell has a very MacBook-Air-like design, whereas the HP is a bit more businesslike, but has fantastic battery life. Below, you'll see our laptop experts, me along with Julie Rivera and Brian Tong, rate both systems across several key categories, and at the end, we'll tally up the score and declare a winner.

Round 1: Design

Dell XPS 13
Dan: The Dell is so MacBook-Air-like, it hurts. But, if you're going to steal, steal from the best. 4/5
Julie: Although I'm not a personal fan of the tapered look, the edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass, comfortable keyboard, and sturdy feel shine in comparison. 4/5
Brian: It's a nice design that's a pure knockoff. It looks good, but not as good as the original. 4/5

HP Folio 13
Dan: Businesslike, but thin. Still, not nearly as eye-catching. 3/5
Julie: Basic no-nonsense design, nice keyboard, but slightly heavier than the Dell. 3/5
Brian: A classic design that isn't a conversation starter, but isn't a distraction, either. I prefer its keyboard over the Dell's. 3/5

HP Folio 13
Dan: The Folio 13 covers the basics, but don't look for anything extra. Both of these at least have backlit keyboards. 3/5
Julie: Has all of the above; an all-around intro for the average consumer looking for just enough productivity. 3/5
Brian: Built-in Ethernet and HDMI-out, two USB, and an SD card slot. It has what I expect in an ultrabook. 4/5

Round 3: Performance

Dell XPS 13
Dan: Identical, middle-of-the-pack performance from both, and more than enough for everyday use. 4/5
Julie: Sporting identical specs, neither has the edge over the other; both exchanged leads on every benchmark. 4/5
Brian: Benchmark tests are nearly identical. 4/5

HP Folio 13
Dan: You'll very rarely feel like you're using a low-voltage processor on either of these. 4/5
Julie: Performance suffices for ordinary everyday tasks on both systems. 4/5
Brian: The same specs yield pretty much the same results. 4/5

The Dell XPS 13
CNET

Round 4: Battery life

Dell XPS 13
Dan: Good, but not extraordinary, battery life. 3/5
Julie: On par with the first round of ultrabooks; not that impressive. 3/5
Brian: A solid 5 hours; that's standard for most ultrabooks. 3/5

Round 5: Value

Dell XPS 13
Dan: Decent bang for your buck, but not ahead of the crowd. 3/5
Julie: Cheaper than the MacBook Air, but not as packed as the HP. 3/5
Brian: You're still getting good value, just not great value. 3/5

HP Folio 13
Dan: At $100 less than the Dell, for essentially the same specs, this is a clear value winner. 5/5
Julie: Same specs, more ports: Ethernet, SD Card slot, and HDMI. At $899, the HP is the better value. 5/5
Brian: Just $899 for the performance and features in the HP may be the best value for an ultrabook of this caliber. 5/5

This was a tight contest between two very similar laptops. But the differences were clear enough that our category scores were nearly unanimous among the three judges -- a very rare occurrence. The final tally was as follows (calculated as an overall average of the average score of each individual round):

Total points:

About the author

While taking psych and theater courses in college, Julie learned her mom overpaid a PC technician to...lose her data. Thus, a tech geek was born. An associate editor for CNET Reviews, as well as a laptop testing analyst at CNET Labs, this wayward individual has maniacally dissected hardware and conquered hardware/software related issues for more than a decade. Just don't ask for help on her time off--she'll stare at you quizzically, walk away, and make herself a drink.
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Brian brings his high energy and edgy style to the CNET family, showcasing the latest and greatest in the tech world with substance to back up his style. Brian regularly appears on CBS, CNN, Headline News, and local TV stations and radio networks while hosting several of CNET's popular franchises.
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Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of laptops, desktops, and Windows tablets, while also writing about games, gadgets, and other topics. A former radio DJ and member of Mensa, he's written about music and technology for more than 15 years, appearing in publications including Spin, Blender, and Men's Journal.
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